Abstract A019: Cancer survivor-specific dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: St. Jude Lifetime (SJLIFE) Cohort
Authors: Yikyung Park, Mei Wang, Tuo Lan, AnnaLynn M. Williams, Matthew J. Ehrhardt, Emily R. Finch, Jennifer Q. Lanctot, Shu Jiang, Kevin R. Krull, Gregory T. Armstrong, Melissa M. Hudson, Graham A. Colditz, Leslie Robison, Kirsten K. Ness
Journal: Cancer Research (2023)

Abstract Background: Childhood cancer survivors are a growing population at elevated risk for premature aging and age-related chronic health conditions (CHCs) compared to the general population. In the general population, diet affects many hallmarks of aging, including inflammation, metabolic dysfunctions, and molecular and epigenetic changes. We examined associations between dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer. Methods: Adult survivors (18-65 years old, mean [SD] age 31 [8.4] years) of childhood cancer enrolled in SJLIFE between 2007 and 2017 completed a 110-item food frequency questionnaire at enrollment (n=2,904). Sociodemographic, cancer, cancer treatments, and health history were abstracted from medical records; CHCs were clinically validated. Factor analysis was performed to identify dietary patterns specific to the study population. Premature aging was assessed using the Deficit Accumulation Index (DAI) based on 45 age-related CHCs and categorized into low (&amp;lt;0.2), medium (0.2-0.34), and high (&amp;gt;0.35) aging risk groups. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multinomial logistic regressions adjusting for potential confounders, such as sociodemographics, health behaviors, and cancer treatments. Individuals’ factor scores of each pattern were grouped into quintiles, and a median score of each quintile was entered as a continuous term in regression models. Results: 20% of survivors were at medium- and 8% were at high-risk for premature aging. Survivors at high-risk for premature aging were more likely to be female, smokers, have low socioeconomic status, and have received radiation therapy to head and neck, chest, spine, or abdomen compared to those at low premature aging risk. Three dietary patterns were identified: 1) plant-based, 2) fast-food, and 3) Western contemporary. A plant-based diet was characterized by greater intakes of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish. A higher plant-based diet pattern score was associated with a lower risk of premature aging (OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.62-0.94 for the high-risk group; OR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.79-1.04 for the medium-risk group). A fast-food diet was characterized by greater intakes of sweets, processed meat, refined grains, potato, high-fat dairy, and soda. A fast-food diet was related to a non-significant increased risk of premature aging (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 0.91-1.57 for the high-risk group; OR=1.18, 95% CI: 0.98-1.43 for the medium-risk group). A Western contemporary diet characterized by greater intakes of meat, pasta/rice, pizza, Mexican food, and fruit juice was associated with an increased risk of premature aging (OR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.05-1.78 for the high-risk group; OR=1.04, 95% CI: 0.87-1.26 for the medium-risk group). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that diet plays a role in aging, and a diet rich in plant-based foods may mitigate the risk of premature aging in childhood cancer survivors. Citation Format: Yikyung Park, Mei Wang, Tuo Lan, AnnaLynn M. Williams, Matthew J. Ehrhardt, Emily R. Finch, Jennifer Q. Lanctot, Shu Jiang, Kevin R. Krull, Gregory T. Armstrong, Melissa M. Hudson, Graham A. Colditz, Leslie Robison, Kirsten K. Ness. Cancer survivor-specific dietary patterns and risk of premature aging in adult survivors of childhood cancer: St. Jude Lifetime (SJLIFE) Cohort [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Aging and Cancer; 2022 Nov 17-20; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;83(2 Suppl_1):Abstract nr A019.